Tag: Elbow

On Elbow’s tenths studio album, the band rides the groove on several songs including the swampy murk of first track, “Things I’ve Been Telling Myself For Years” where singer Guy Garvey sings of “kissing hands and shaking babies”.  “Her To Earth” uses mumbled lyrics as a sound bed with a bit of an 80s vibe while second single “Balu” sees synths dominate with some horns thrown in for funky effect. “Lovers’ Leap” uses vocal effects with a steady bass groove.

The second half sees the band sound like an older, wiser indie rock band.  Newest official member, drummer Alex Reeves provides the quick beats of “The Picture” where a hotel room provides the scene of a woman that is like “a slender elegant foot on the neck”. “Knife Fight” and “Good Blood Mexico City” provide two great rock tracks with Garvey singing “when the sun goes down/the night explodes in their eyes” on the latter.  It’s on those songs plus the closing “From The River” that lifts Audio Vertigo up a couple notches for yet another solid Elbow record.

7.5/10

The Manchester band has gone through a few changes in the past few years. Singer Guy Garvin made the transatlantic move to New York a few years ago before getting married and the band have parted ways with drummer Richard Jupp. The band’s seventh studio release and first since 2014 continues their Oasis meets Coldplay meets Radiohead meets The Doves sound – introspection and a bit melancholy with a touch of the anthemic.

 

The driving strings and dramatic chorus swells on “Magnificent (She Says)” are a particular highlight in what could almost be a James Bond theme. Underneath a slow burning 80’s style R n B jam there is a great percussive beat that propels “Gentle Storm”. A smart producer will use this at some point and feature a soulful female singer to sing the wonderful “fall in love with me… everyday” line. The poetic and understated guitar make “Head for Supplies” a lovely little tune while “K2” performs a similar feat with more of a drum beat and a political bent to the lyrics.

This is my third Elbow album of the last four and I’m not sure if it’s better than the others but I seem to like it more (a revisit of past work is definitely in order). Songs average just under five minutes each and at times can blend into one another. But there is a beauty in the lyrics that at times reflect the joy in Garvey’s recent marriage to actress Rachael Stirling and the welcoming of their first child earlier this year. “Then my telephone shakes into life and I see your name, the wheat fields explode into gold on either side of the train” This is a strong album for a band this late into their career.

8/10